Civvy Street

by Fiona Field

  ‘And I also suppose,’ said Jenna, ‘that with your mate Caro running the crèche it’ll be easier for the wives with kids to make appointments.’

  ‘Exactly, although...’

  Jenna sensed not all was well. ‘Although?’

  Maddy took a breath before she started. ‘Caro and I have had a bit of a falling out.’

  Uh-oh. ‘What sort of “falling out”?’

  Maddy told Jenna about what happened.

  ‘Doesn’t sound ace.’

  ‘That’s a bit of an understatement,’ said Maddy, picking up Rose again and sitting her on her hip.

  ‘You know what I think?’ asked Jenna. ‘You need to get on the sidelines of this. You need to get Camilla to make sure Caro stays put. Let’s face it, the whole point of this place is to make it a one-stop shop and without the crèche there’ll be a hole in it you could see from space.’

  Maddy couldn’t help laughing at Jenna’s exaggeration. ‘You’re right. Caro won’t cooperate for me but she might for Camilla. Besides, she’ll be earning good money so she’d be bonkers if she turns it down.’

  ‘Right, I need to go back and feed Eliot or he’ll be a right pain.’

  ‘And I need to get Nathan from playschool.’

  ‘Playschool? Already?’

  ‘Just a taster day, to see how he gets on. He’s due to start in September. Let’s hope he had a good time and wants to go back.’

  ‘Blimey, nursery school for Nathan. They do grow up fast, don’t they?’

  Maddy nodded. ‘Soon we’ll have to decide about prep schools and all that stuff.’

  Jenna shook her head. ‘I suppose you don’t want him to go, do you?’

  ‘Not really but in my heart I know it may be the only way. It’s that or risking the poor little blighter having to change schools all the time.’

  Jenna was silent for a minute. She hadn’t even considered Eliot’s education although she didn’t think she and Dan would be sending him to swanky private schools. She just had to hope they wouldn’t get buggered about by too many moves in the next sixteen years. Fat chance of that though.

  ‘Talking of changing schools, have you heard how Susie’s kids are taking it all?’ she asked Maddy.

  Maddy grimaced. ‘I don’t think it’s going great, to be honest. I’m going to pop over later today and see how she is.’

  ‘Give her my love. And if there’s anything I can do...’

  Maddy nodded but Jenna knew that the only thing that would probably make things better would be if everything reverted to how it was.

  *

  Maddy pushed Rose along the road towards the garrison playgroup, on her way to collect Nathan and wondering where the years had gone. It seemed no time at all since he’d been born but suddenly he was almost old enough to be at nursery school. OK, there were still another couple of months to go before he’d start properly and this was just a taster session to see how he got on, but even so it was yet another huge milestone that was whizzing by. She’d tried not to worry about how he might be getting on, had kept herself busy for the two and a half hours since she’d dropped him off to keep her mind from dwelling on it, but now it was time to pick him up she felt a surge of guilt at abandoning him with a roomful of strangers. She consoled herself with the knowledge that he’d been pretty good about her leaving him alone, but she couldn’t help wondering if he’d missed her, spent the time sobbing. Leaving him with other mothers to babysit occasionally was one thing, leaving him with a roomful of children and a couple of nursery school teachers was rather different. She glanced at her watch – her anxiety was making her early. She had about ten minutes to kill before it was time to pick him up. Maddy decided that as she was passing the Spar she might as well pop in for some more bread and milk.

  The doors swooshed open automatically and she went in from the hot July sun to the cool interior. She grabbed a basket which she balanced on the hood of the pushchair and headed for the groceries aisle. As she rounded the end of the shelves she met Caro, face to face, coming the other way. Both women stopped in their tracks and stared at each other. Maddy was about to say something – hello... sorry... anything to try and make a start at a reconciliation – but Caro just looked away and swept past, leaving Maddy feeling cut to the quick.

  Chapter 17

  Susie walked through the back entrance of the mess – the tradesman’s entrance – for the first time in her life. In fact, until Sergeant McManners had told her about it she hadn’t known of its existence. She felt extraordinarily self-conscious about this change of status and hoped that none of the mess members saw her. Which was ridiculous, she realised. She was going to be the mess manager, she was going to be their employee so the sooner she got over herself the better. Of course, it didn’t help matters that Mike still didn’t approve of her working here. He’d made it more than plain when she’d asked him to wish her luck on her first day. Maybe, when he started work at his new job, which he was due to in a week, he’d have more to think about than how inappropriate he thought his wife’s new career was. Susie sighed. For heaven’s sake she was hardly standing on a street corner prostituting herself, but if Mike was to be believed she was only one step away from that.

  ‘Ah, you’re here,’ said McManners who was sitting on a stool in the big, stainless steel mess kitchen. ‘You found your way all right?’

  ‘Yes, thanks.’

  ‘Coffee?’

  ‘Please.’

  ‘Charlie,’ called McManners across the kitchen to a steward, ‘get Mrs Collins a coffee.’

  ‘It’s Susie,’ she reminded him.

  ‘Yes of course, ma’am... Susie.’

  Susie smiled. ‘And you are?’

  ‘Scottie. Well, it’s Robert really but I haven’t been called that since I was a recruit.’

  ‘Which would you prefer?’

  ‘Och, Scottie’ll do. When I’m a civvy I may try reverting to my given name but until then I think I’d be better saving my breath to cool my porridge.’

  The steward brought over a steaming mug of coffee along with a carton of milk and a bowl of sugar that had seen a wet teaspoon dipped into it a few too many times. Susie took the milk but declined the sugar. Now she was one of the staff she didn’t merit a salver and the silver-plate milk jug and sugar bowl. She smiled to herself.

  ‘All set?’ asked Scottie. Susie nodded. ‘Follow me, then.’

  Susie picked up her mug and followed him through the kitchen, out of the door into the main mess and across the entrance hall to his cubbyhole beneath the stairs.

  He grabbed a spare chair and put it behind his desk. ‘Right.’ He plonked himself down and switched on the computer. ‘I’ve made some notes about what routine jobs need doing and when. It’s a bit like running a house – only on a grander scale.’ He reached over to a bookcase beside his desk and grabbed a big A4 lever-arch file. He handed it to Susie.

  Bloody hell. She stared at the wodges of paper between the stiff cover. How much had she to learn?

  Scottie must have clocked her expression. ‘Don’t worry, ma— Susie. It’s all quite straightforward. Most of that is what my predecessor did for me, and probably his did for him. I’ve just updated it for you – taken out the references to double-entry bookkeeping and proving balances and replaced them with examples of the formulae on the Excel program. It’s great as a reference though, if you forget stuff.’

  The computer bing-bonged into life and as Susie sipped her coffee, Scottie began to teach her about making up the members’ mess bills, catering contracts, stock checks, extra-duty pay for the staff, dinner nights and the other matters that were involved in the running of the mess. By the time they got towards lunchtime her head was bursting with information.

  She glanced at her watch, ten past twelve. Almost time for a break, she thought with relief. Not that she’d go home, she had things to do in her lunch hour – assuming she got a whole lunch hour.

  ‘Scottie? I need to go out at lunchtime. Got somethin
g I have to do but I was just wondering how long our lunch break is?’

  ‘That’s the thing, ma’am... I mean Susie. Sorry, but after a lifetime of calling you “ma’am” it’s blooming hard to switch.’ He smiled apologetically.

  ‘Not to worry. What’s “the thing”?’

  ‘Lunchtime is when the officers like to come and discuss their bills, or complaints, or ideas for the menu... that sort of stuff.’

  Right on cue James peered round the door.

  ‘McManners... oh, hi, Susie.’

  ‘Captain Rosser,’ said Susie, firmly. James looked puzzled. ‘Now I am taking over as mess manager from Sergeant McManners it would be more appropriate if you and the others call me Mrs Collins. Let’s face it, you don’t call any other members of the mess staff by their Christian names. I’m not being stand-offish but it would be better all round in the long term.’

  ‘Oh. Oh, OK.’ he still looked a bit bemused though. ‘Whatever you say, Su— Mrs Collins.’ He flashed her a slightly embarrassed smile. ‘Anyway, I’ve come to suggest that we might want to look at our subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals. I’ve noticed that some things are barely getting read and we could probably do with more than one copy of The Times; there’s often a bit of a scramble for it at breakfast. Can we table it for the next mess committee meeting?’

  ‘It’s a matter for the PMC more than me,’ said Scottie. ‘You’d best take it up with Major Fanshaw, although I can make a note to remind him to add it to the agenda.’

  ‘Would you? Ace,’ said James. ‘Sorry to interrupt.’ He gave Susie a smile and left.

  ‘See what I mean?’ said Scottie. ‘So I generally have a sandwich at my desk. You’re not obliged to, of course, but I find it just makes life easier for everyone if I’m accessible around this time.’

  ‘Not a problem,’ said Susie. ‘I see exactly what you mean. I’ll bring something in with me tomorrow.’

  Scottie nodded in approval. ‘So, has Major Collins started his new job yet?’

  ‘Next week. He’s on resettlement leave at the moment, but he’s not bothering with resettlement as such. He’s using the time to redecorate our new house, and look after the kids while I’m here. Which is kind of the reason why I have to nip out shortly. I need to sort out some childcare because when he starts work... I mean, my two are almost old enough to be left to look after themselves but I’d rather not.’ Not on that grotty estate, at any rate.

  ‘Then you go right ahead, ma— Susie.’

  ‘I won’t be long, promise. Just a few minutes.’

  Susie grabbed her handbag and left. She hoped to catch Caro before Will came home for his lunch. Susie didn’t want to interrupt the Edwards’ family meal but she had to pick Caro’s brains about proper childminding. She knew she could fall back on Maddy’s offer in the short-term but she needed to sort out something permanent – and legal.

  *

  Caro opened the door wide and Susie was assailed by the sound of small boys fighting, only, to judge by the volume, these small boys were a lot less small than they’d been when she’d last seen them, a couple of years previously, back at the old barracks. Now they sounded like proper bruisers.

  ‘Hi, Suse,’ said Caro. ‘Come in, come in... if you can bear it.’ She opened the door wide so her visitor could step inside. ‘What can I do for you?’ She reached behind her and shut the sitting room door which went some way to lessening the racket. ‘Come into the kitchen so we can hear ourselves think.’

  Susie followed her along the hall. She’d just sat down when Josh burst in.

  ‘Mum, Mum, Ollie hit me.’

  ‘Did he?’ said Caro with a total lack of concern. ‘Hit him back. In fact...’ She went to the sitting room. ‘...I’ve had quite enough of you two squabbling and Susie doesn’t want to be bothered with your racket so the pair of you can play outside. Get your bikes out of the garage and go and find some other kids to play with. It’s a nice day, there’s bound to be lots of your friends out and about. Shoo.’

  ‘But Mu-u-um...’ they both wailed.

  ‘I’m not discussing this,’ said Caro firmly. She opened the front door. ‘Out. And if you stay out for at least half an hour you can both have a chocolate biscuit after your lunch.’

  Ollie and Josh exchanged a look and obviously communicated to each other that the bribe was probably worthwhile. They ran off.

  Caro slammed the door and returned to her visitor. ‘You know, there’s a lot to gripe about, living in crappy army housing on a patch, but the demographic is A Good Thing. Having loads of kids around for your own to play with almost makes everything else worthwhile.’

  Susie nodded. ‘I know. I miss it.’

  Caro stared at her. ‘Sorry. That was crass of me. I keep forgetting you’ve escaped from all this.’

  ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that,’ said Susie with a wry smile. ‘And don’t worry about pussyfooting around our situation. Let’s face it, what happened to me and Mike was none of your doing.’

  ‘No... well...’ There was a short awkward silence before Caro added, ‘How are you all settling into your new house?’

  Did Susie tell Caro the truth? That the twins were the brats from hell? That they sulked around the house, complaining about every last thing: the village; the estate; the inhabitants; the lack of public transport; the lack of friends... the list went on and on. That Mike was sure their next-door neighbours were drug dealers? That someone had already keyed their car?

  ‘Fine,’ she lied. ‘Although it’s a bit different to living on a patch.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yeah, very.’ Again she was tempted to tell Caro what it was really like but she stopped, afraid that it would make her and Mike look like even sadder losers. Better to put a bit of a spin on things. ‘Maybe I’m being over-cautious but is it OK to ask one’s neighbours what they do for a living? Is it a question that might offend?’

  Caro nodded, thoughtfully. ‘I don’t know, would it? But I can see what you mean. It isn’t as if it’s a question that’s ever arisen on a married patch, is it? Let’s face it, if you live in a Type IV quarter everyone knows that you’ve either got at least three children or you’re a field officer’s wife.’

  ‘Exactly, that’s my point. You can tell at a glance what the pay grade is. And let’s face it, on a patch you’re a bit unlikely to find that your neighbours are drawing the dole. Although,’ she added with a raised eyebrow, ‘we came perilously close.’

  Caro reached across the kitchen table and gave Susie’s hand a squeeze. ‘But you didn’t. That’s the main thing.’

  Susie brightened. ‘Anyway, with both Mike and me in paid employment I need childcare. So, this is the reason I’m here – to ask you if you can help me. The twins are no trouble, honest, and they might even be able to lend a hand with Ollie and Josh. And I’d pay, obviously.’

  Caro remained silent for a second or two. ‘Susie...’

  Susie picked up on Caro’s tone of voice, and the hesitation. ‘That’s a “no” then, is it?’

  ‘No. Well, a bit of a no. But not a complete one,’ Caro added quickly.

  Susie understood. Like Maddy, Caro would do it at a pinch but not as a permanent arrangement. ‘But it’s the same sort of “no” that I got from Maddy.’

  ‘Maddy?’ snorted Caro. ‘There’s a surprise. In fact, the only surprise is that now she’s so grand she even bothered to talk to you.’

  Susie was stunned. What was going on there? ‘But you two are mates.’

  ‘Not are... were.’

  Susie’s eyes widened. ‘And Maddy’s not grand.’

  That comment got a derisory snort from Caro.

  ‘What happened?’

  Caro told Susie about the row. ‘In fact,’ she finished, ‘if it wasn’t for the fact that running the crèche in the community centre wasn’t such a bloody good opportunity to earn some decent money, I’d tell her to shove that too. But running the crèche is exactly why I can’t give you an un
qualified yes. If I’m going to be doing that, I can’t be certain that I’ll have the energy left to take on private childminding on top.’

  Susie shrugged. ‘I see.’

  ‘And, Maddy shouldn’t even consider doing it, not unless she gets registered and checked and everything. It’s the law. If she did, she could be in real trouble – and you too.’

  ‘But she’s a mate. I know her, I’d trust her with my life, let alone my kids.’

  ‘Rules is rules, Susie.’

  Susie rolled her eyes and wasn’t sure, in the light of what Caro had just said about her and Maddy’s relationship, if Caro mightn’t be exaggerating things a little, just to spike Maddy’s guns. But surely Caro wasn’t like that... was she?

  The boys barrelled back into the house insisting they’d been outside for ‘hours and hours’. Caro gave them no truck and sent them packing again.

  ‘The big hand has got to be pointing straight up and the little hand on the one before you can come back in. In fact, why don’t you go to the end of the road and see if you can see Daddy coming home for lunch? When you see him you can come in.’

  The boys scooted out of the house again and once more there was peace.

  ‘So, when is the community centre going to be up and running?’

  ‘In a few weeks.’

  ‘So, could you help out till then?’ pleaded Susie.

  ‘I suppose. But I can’t give you a definite promise once the crèche opens. Not until I see how it all pans out. Susie, I’m not being difficult but you need to have a back-up in place... just in case, and it can’t be Maddy, not unless she’s prepared to jump through a whole load of official hoops.’

  ‘No, no, I completely understand. I’ll see if I can find someone else – just in case, as you say. And someone who is properly registered, et cetera, et cetera. Promise. And one other thing, Caro. The Fanshaws... Mike wasn’t best pleased when he heard that Seb was taking over from him.’

  Caro snorted again and muttered, ‘I bet.’

  ‘Let’s face it, promoting a pretty junior officer rather indicated to Mike that the brass felt that anyone could do his job, even a fairly junior captain. I mean, I don’t think anyone, least of all Seb, expected him to take over from Mike. As you can imagine, Mike felt a bit undervalued as a result.’ Caro nodded in sympathy. ‘But Seb really didn’t back-stab to get it. He was as gobsmacked as everyone else.’